Cloud9 LCS and Academy Roster reveal

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Published on: 20/12/2017

As the beginning of the 2018 NA LCS approaches, teams are rushing to finalize both their primary starting rosters and Academy teams. C9 being one of the biggest gaming organisations and presence in the NA LCS is no exception, having just announced the completed “Cloud9” and “Cloud9 Academy” line ups.

Cloud9 (Primary 2018 NA LCS team)

Licorice has returned to Cloud9, only this time, entering their starting roster as the top laner. The Canadian had previously played on Cloud9 Challenger for almost a year before being picked up by eUnited. Smoothie, Jensen and Sneaky have all re-signed with Cloud9 having proved themselves as some of the best players in the scene throughout 2017. Svenkersen will play as Cloud9’s starting jungler having been dropped by Team SoloMid, the top NA team in 2017.

While from an outside point of view, the changes made aren’t much of an upgrade compared to last year’s roster, it is nonetheless, a top tier team. Cloud9 have spent their two import slots on Jensen and Svenkersen, questionable considering many teams opt to sign the more successful Korean talent.

LCS roster

Eric “Licorice” Ritchie – Top

Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen – Jungle

Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen – Mid

Andy “Smoothie” Ta – Support

Zachary “Sneaky” Scuderi – ADC

Cloud9 Academy

C9’s academy team consists of both existing and new players to the organisation. Four of the five players on the team are fairly well known in the scene having 3+ years in competitive LoL. Wiggily, as the jungler for the team is recognised as one of the primary up and coming junglers in the NA LCS. While Wiggily only joined the scene in early 2015, he gained popularity with his time on both Tempo Storm and Phoenix1 before transferring into the C9 family. While he had been rumoured to join the primary starting C9 roster, it is likely he’ll take over the role if ‘Sven’ underperforms. Both ‘Keith’ and ‘Zeyzal’ had represented C9’s teams in the past, Keith being on Cloud9 Challenger and Zeyzal on Cloud 9. Surprisingly, Goldenglue has left the central NA LCS, instead opting to join Cloud9’s academy team. This allows C9 to not only have an extremely strong substitute mid-laner for their main team but it also strategically prevents other teams from picking him up. ‘League’ is fairly new to competitive LoL, having only been on trial with Relentless Gaming for a month before being picked up first overall at the Scouting Grounds.